• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sprinkles and Sprouts

Great food with grocery store ingredients

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
Home > Meal Type > Sides > A Simple Salad and Simple Salad Dressing

A Simple Salad and Simple Salad Dressing

Updated: Nov 12th 2020 • Published: Feb 17th 2020 • Leave a Comment

Jump to recipe button JUMP TO RECIPE
JUMP TO VIDEO
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves
pin image of salad dressing and salad leaves

A simple salad and simple salad dressing, when done well it is an excellent addition to a meal! 

Opening a bag of mixed leaves is probably the easiest and quickest side dish! But what turns mixed leaves into a great salad is a great dressing. Instead of reaching for a store-bought bottle, make a speedy dressing that tastes amazing and keeps for weeks!

A great salad dressing is the basis of so many great salads. And with so many variations and ways to make it your own, this simple salad and dressing is the little black dress of salad dressings!

salad dressing being poured from a glass jar onto salad leaves

Jump Menu

  • A simple salad
  • Additions/Variations to the simple salad
  • A simple salad dressing
  • Additions/Variations to the simple dressing
  • How long can you keep homemade salad dressing? 
  • Simple Salad and Simple Salad Dressing Recipe

A simple salad

This is as simple as it gets, just mixed leaves! Bright and colorful, they add a great crunch and freshness to a meal. We especially like to add a side salad to our pasta dinners! 

I share a pasta recipe every Friday, and every week a side salad is one of my suggested sides! So I thought it was time to share my basic salad and dressing with you! 

Additions/Variations to the simple salad

You can add any extras you love to this salad, but our most common ones are:

  • Chopped cucumber
  • Diced Bell peppers
  • Diced Red onion
  • Roasted pumpkin/sweet potato
  • Grated carrot
  • Chopped pear/apple

(I never add tomatoes to my simple salad, I prefer tomatoes served like this Brazilian tomato salad)

a plate of dressed salad leaves

A simple salad dressing

This dressing will keep for weeks in the pantry/cupboard. There’s no need even to pop it in the refrigerator! And it uses just a few basic ingredients! (see the actual recipe for quantities)

  • White wine vinegar 
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Mustard
  • Honey
  • Salt & Pepper

These all get mixed together in a measuring cup or small jar, and the dressing is done! How easy is that?!!!

unmixed ingredients for salad dressing in a glass jar

Additions/Variations to the simple dressing

Make this dressing your own with one of these twists:

  • Use apple cider vinegar
  • Use red wine vinegar
  • Use balsamic vinegar
  • Use maple syrup
  • Use a nutty oil (walnut is a fav!)
  • Add some dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, dill)
  • Use a grainy mustard

Fresh additions (these will limit the time you can keep the dressing)

  • Minced onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Minced ginger
  • Grated parmesan
  • Lemon zest
mixed up salad dressing in a glass jar on a white mat

How long can you keep homemade salad dressing? 

Making homemade salad dressing is fantastic, especially when you can make a bigger batch and save some for another day! 

The beauty of this simple dressing is that everything is from the store cupboard, so you can easily make this dressing up whenever you are running low.

The basic dressing will keep for 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator. After this, the flavor of the dressing will degrade as the oil will start to lose its flavor.

You’ll find that keeping the dressing in the refrigertaor; the oil will solidify slightly. This is perfectly normal. Just remove the dressing and place it on the counter, as it comes to room temperature, the dressing will become pourable again. Then just give it a good shake/stir before use.

If you add any of the fresh ingredients listed above, then the dressing shouldn’t be kept for more than three days in the fridge.

a glass jar of salad dressing above a bowl of mixed leaves

Enjoy x

Dishes that work well with a simple salad:

  • Bacon Shrimp Pasta
  • Peri Peri Chicken Tray Bake
  • Easy Persian Chicken Breasts
  • Creamy Tomato Chicken and Chorizo Pasta
  • Creamy Chicken Gnocchi with Spinach
  • Classic Lasagna with Béchamel
  • Greek Salmon with Lemon and Dill
  • Garlic Bacon Pasta

RECIPE NEWSLETTER

Signup and get my FREE soup cookbook.

By clicking submit, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Pin this recipe for a Simple Salad and Simple Salad Dressing. Pin it here.

salad dressing being poured over salad leaves
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
0 from 0 votes

Simple Salad and Simple Salad Dressing Recipe

A simple salad and simple salad dressing, when done well it is an excellent addition to a meal! Opening a bag of mixed leaves is probably the easiest and quickest side dish! But what turns mixed leaves into a great salad is a great dressing. This simple salad dressing is the basis of so many great salads. With so many variations and ways to make it your own, this simple salad and dressing is the little black dress of salads!
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Side
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Servings: 4
Calories: 193kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams

Small batch (4 servings)

  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper

Big batch (~2 ¼ Cup)

  • 1 ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Measure the ingredients into a jar or large measuring cup. (A jar is much easier)
  • Shake or stir until the ingredients are well combined.
  • The dressing will keep in the fridge for 3 weeks.

Notes

Make this dressing your own with one of these twists (these won’t change the length of time you can keep the dressing for):
  • Use apple cider vinegar
  • Use red wine vinegar
  • Use balsamic vinegar
  • Use maple syrup
  • Use a nutty oil (walnut is a fav!)
  • Add some dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, dill)
  • Use a grainy mustard
Fresh additions (if using these the dressing must be used within 3 days)
Pour a small amount of your dressing into a measuring cup and then add the fresh ingredients. That way, your big batch can remain in the refrigerator.
  • Minced onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Minced ginger
  • Grated parmesan
  • Lemon zest

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 15mg | Sugar: 1g | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

Find me on:
Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook 
Let’s share the food love and make the world a tastier place 🙂

Jump to recipe buttonFacebook share iconPinterest share icon

Filed Under: All Recipes, Sides

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Claire,

Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

Here on Sprinkles and Sprouts you will find delicious meals all made with easy to find grocery store ingredients. Family friendly mains, sensational sides and delicious desserts. Plus a great selection of party food and appetizers.

Read More

RECIPE NEWSLETTER

Signup and get my FREE soup cookbook.

By clicking submit, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Readers’ Favorites

Small close up of pasta in chicken broth braised celery in an oval white dish
a silver spoon dipping into a white bowl of hallandaise sauce tube pasta with a creamy steak sauce in a grey bowl
homemade flour tortilla on a sheet of baking paper close up on a chicken portion coated in peri peri seasonings
a small bowl of red salsa on a blue table close up on a sliced chicken breast with garlic spaghetti
small white bowl filled with linguine topped with shaved black truffle Beef and broccoli takeout style in a white bowl

Footer

All content, recipes and photographs are copyrighted to Claire McEwen and are the property of Sprinkles and Sprouts.
THEY MAY NOT BE REPUBLISHED IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PROPER CREDIT.
Contact me to see republishing and syndication rights.

2014-2020 Sprinkles and Sprouts

  • Home
  • About Sprinkles and Sprouts
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Cravings Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in